If you want to play music on your PC without having to sit right in front of it, you need a wireless remote at the least. Ditto if your PC will be used to tune TV. Many remotes come with software that gives you a 10-foot interface and often a free online TV guide. Some are multidevice and also control a TV or stereo receiver. (See our reviews of remote controls.) If you buy a TV tuner card, a remote is typically included.

Joel Santo Domingo is the Lead Analyst for the Desktops team at PC Magazine Labs. He joined PC Magazine in 2000, after 7 years of IT work for companies large and small. His background includes managing mobile, desktop and network infrastructure on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Joel is proof that you can escape the retail grind: he wore a yellow polo shirt early in his tech career. Along the way Joel earned a BA in English Literature and an MBA in Information Technology...
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